Epipremnum aureum plant named ‘Lemon Meringue’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Epipremnum aureum  cultivar named ‘Lemon Meringue’ is disclosed, characterized by variegated leaves with two monochromatic colors where the outer portion of the leaves are moderate yellow color and defined green central areas of the leaves extend from either side of the midrib. The new variety is an  Epipremnum aureum , normally produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Epipremnumaureum.

Varietal denomination: ‘Lemon Meringue’.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEpipremnum, botanically known as Epipremnum aureum, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Lemon Meringue’.

The new Epipremnum plant cultivar was discovered and selected by MichaelK. Rimland from a naturally occurring, single plant mutation ofEpipremnum within a population of Epipremnum plants in a controlledplant nursery in Miami, Fla., U.S. Asexual reproduction of the ‘LemonMeringue’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed in August 2020 inMiami, Fla. U.S. and has shown that the unique features of this cultivarare stable and reproduced to true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Lemon Meringue’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Lemon Meringue’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Lemon Meringue’ as a new and distinctEpipremnum aureum cultivar:

-   -   1. Yellow variegation on outer portion of leaves with defined        green area of varying shape and size in center of each leaf        extending from either side of the midrib.

Plants of ‘Lemon Meringue’ can be compared to plants of the speciesselection, Epipremnum aureum. However, ‘Lemon Meringue’ differs from theplants of the mutation species selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘Lemon Meringue’ produced variegated leaves that        have two colors, where the moderate yellow color is on the outer        portion of the leaves and the green color extends from either        side of the midrib in the central portion of the leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The colored photographs herein illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Epipremnum showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in color reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographmay differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description of the new variety which accurately describes thecolors of the new Epipremnum plant.

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a typical plant of ‘Lemon Meringue’,grown in a 15.24 cm diameter container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of a typical foliar variegation of‘Lemon Meringue’, illustrating the variegation of the leaves.

FIG. 3 is a enlarged view of a typical foliar variegation of ‘LemonMeringue’, illustrating the variegation of the leaves.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations,measurements, and values describes plants of the new Epipremnum grown inMiami, Fla. (U.S.) in conditions of 63% shading and 24 hr ventilationall year around in 6 inch containers and under cultural practices ofcommercial Epipremnum production. During the production of the plants,temperatures ranged from about 60 (winter)-90 (highest in summer)degrees Fahrenheit and light levels were normal sunlight. Plants weregrowing about 10 weeks when the photographs and the description weretaken.

The following is a detailed description of the new plant characteristicswith color in terminology in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, Edition V (2007), except where ordinary dictionarysignificance of color is indicated.

-   Botanical classification: Epipremnum aureum.-   Common name: ‘Lemon Meringue’.

Propagation

-   Type: By leaf and eye cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots, summer: About 2 weeks at temperatures of 78    degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.-   Time to initiate roots, winter: About 3 weeks at temperatures of 60    degrees to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant, spring: About 4 weeks at    temperatures of 80 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.-   Root description: Thick and dense; fleshy when plants mature;    typical of species.

Plant

-   Growth habit: Low growing, cascading.-   Plant shape: Plants are full, compact and have dense foliage.-   Height (from soil level to top of leaf plane): Approximately 15 cm    to top of highest leaf.-   Plant diameter or spread: Approximately 152 mm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Stem description:    -   -   Length.—About 203 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 50 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Branching.—Stems do not tend to branch.        -   Colors, mature.—Moderate yellow green 154C and green N144C.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 10 weeks.

Foliage

-   Leaves:    -   -   Leaf.—Ovate, egg shape, rounded base, apex is pointy. Smooth            texture on top surface and bottom surface. Margin is entire,            without serration.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Average length.—About 8 inches.        -   Average width.—About 6 inches        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate, egg shape.        -   Apex.—Acuminate, pointy.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 2.4 cm.        -   Color.—Mature leaves, upper surface: Centered variegation,            areas of moderate yellow green 154C and green N144C; Mature            leaves, lower surface: primary color moderate yellow green            154C and secondary color of green N144C.        -   Venation.—Reticulate, with lower surface venation color            green N144C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—50 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 to 3 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Moderate yellow green 154C.

Flower

-   Blooming not observed on the new cultivar.

Other Characteristics

-   Seed production: No seed production to date has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Normal tropical conditions. Tolerant up to    and including USDA Zone 10a.

Other distinctive characteristics: Overall commercially interestingappearance. When compared to its closest comparison cultivar ‘GlobalGreen’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,530, respectively, ‘LemonMeringue’ differs in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Lemon Meringue’ has a primary color on its leaf of moderate        yellow green 154C that contrasts with its secondary color of        green N144C. Whereas, ‘Global Green’ has a leaf with a primary        color of moderate olive-green 137A that contrasts with its        secondary color of moderate yellow green 137A.    -   2. ‘Lemon Meringue’ has yellow variegation on outer portion of        leaves with defined green area of varying shape and size in        center of each leaf extending from either side of the midrib.        Whereas, ‘Global Green’ has moderate yellow green in the central        variegated area of its leaves and moderate olive-green on the        outer variegated area of its leaves.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Epipremnum aureumplant named ‘Lemon Meringue’ as illustrated and described.